And james t



(No Model.)

B. W. LITTLE & J. T. ROBB.

ELEGTRO'LIER.

No. 433,687. Patented A11 5, 1890.

avwemto z UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EVERETT XV. LITTLE, OF NEW? YORK, AND JAMES T. ROBE, OF MOUNT VERNON,NEW" YORK.

ELECTROLIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 433,687, dated. August5, 1890. Application filed August 10, 1889. Serial No. 320,356. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be i known that we, EVERETT XV. LITTLE, of New York city, in the countyand State of New York, and JAMES T. ROBE, of Mount Vernon, lVestchestercounty, New York, have jointly invented a new and useful Improvement inElectroliers, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention has reference to electroliers for use with incandescentlamps, and particularly to those electrolier-s in which a looseconnection is provided between the ceilingblock and the stem of thefixture.

The main object of our invention is to cheapen the construction of suchelectroliers and to provide a loose connection between the stem thereofand the ceiling-block, which will permit freedom of movement of theelectrolier within certain limits in a horizontal and verticaldirection, while at the same time securing absolute safety againstdetachment of the electrolier-stem from the ceiling-block.

Our invention consists, broadly, in forming a ball-and-socket jointbetween the ceilingblock and the stem of the electrolier, and concealingthe said joint by a canopy surrounding the fixture-stem, and providedwith an aperture to permit of the movement of the fixture.

Our invention furtherconsists in providing a chamber above the ball ofthe ball-andsocket joint, wherebya vertical movement of the electrolieris permitted.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating our invention, Figure l is anelevation of an electrolier and suspending parts adapted to be used withan incandescent lamp, the ceiling-block being shown in section. Fig. 2is a bottom View of the ceiling-block with the line-wires in theirchannels. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of theball-and-socket joint formingthe suspending device; and Fig. 4is a section through the ballot thesuspending-joint, taken in a plane to show the stop-pin in elevation.

In the drawings, a is the ceiling-block secured to the ceiling by screws2), passing through the holes I) b. The ceiling-block maybe of anydesirable construction. In the example shown 0 c are contacts for thelinewire 0 c and d cl contacts for the lamp-wires d (1 A safety-fuse eis interposed between the contacts in the usual manner. A hole f isformed in the ceiling-block, and adjacent thereto, in the bottom of theceiling-block, is formed a recess g. The hole f is designed to receivethe screw-threaded arm h of the suspending piece 1', and the recess 9 isdesigned to receive the pin j of said suspending piece. \Vhen thesuspending piece i is placed in position in the ceiling-block, it isheld suspended therein by a nut 70 on the screw-threaded end of the armh, the nut being countersunk in the ceiling-block. held from rotation bythe pin in the recess g. The body of the suspending piece t' is formedof an upper cross-piece Z, depending arms m m, and bottom piece n. Theupper cross-piece Z is channeled across one face, as shown at 0, Figs. 1and 3, and is bored vertically, as shown in dotted lines at '1), Fig. 3.By this arrangement each of the lamp-wires d d may be carried in aseparate channel from its contact, and brought down through thecross'piece, and thence through other parts to the 1am p-socket, theliability of said wires to twist being thus decreased. The bottom piecen is formed with a circular recess, as shown by the dotted lines at q,Fig. 3, and is bored through at the center of the recess to permit ofthe passage of the stem r of the electrolier, which stem is smaller indiameter than said bore. A tapped ball 3, adapted to roll in saidcircular recess, and of such size as to permit it to be passed betweenthe arms on m and leave a space for vertical play between it and thecross-piece Z, receives the screw-threaded end of the stem 0". By thisarrangement, when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, aswinging movement of the electrolier is permitted, the circular recessand ball .9 forming a ball-and-socket joint. A vertical movement of theelectolier is also permitted, as the chamber formed in the suspendingpiece is of greater height than the balls. A stop-pin t projects aboveand to one side of the ball 3, and serves to confine the movement of theballs within certain lim its, the arms or m serving as stop-pieces forsaid pin.

A canopy it, provided with a central aperture larger in diameter thanthe stem 0", serves to cover the face of the bottom of the ceiling- Thesuspending piece is block, the aperture thereof permitting move ment ofthe electrolier. This canopy maybe seon red in any desirable manner,either directly to the ceiling-block, as shown, or by screws passingthrough the upper rim of the canopy and into the ceiling-block. Abayonet-joint may also be used for this purpose, or the can opy may besecured to the bottom piece a by a screw passing through the canopy andinto a tapped hole in said bottom piece. \Ne have shown the canopysecured in place both at its upper and lower portions. In practice,however, it will be necessary to secure it at one portion only, and weprefer to secure it at its lower portion in the manner shown.

The lamp-socket to may be of any desirable construction, and is providedwith a lamp in the usual manner. A shade-holder .r and shade y may beused, if desired.

WVe claim 1. In an electrolier, the combination, with flexiblelamp-conductors, of a suspending piece and stem, a ball-and-socket jointformed betweensaid suspending piece and stem, and

a canopy surrounding said stem and concealing said joint provided withan aperture to permit the movements of the stem, substantially as setforth.

2. In an electrolier, the combination, with flexible lamp-conductors, ofa ball-and-soclzet joint formed between the end of the fixturestemffilCl a piece on the ceiling-block provided with a chamber of greaterheight than said ball, substantially as set forth.

3. In an electrolier, the combination, with flexible lamp-conductors, ofa ceiling-block, a

' stem, a suspending piece on the ceiling-block,

a recess formed in the bottom of said suspending piece, a ball adaptedto move in said recess,and a screw-t hreaded connection between saidball and said stem,and a canopy surrounding said stein, hiding said balland socket, provided with an aperture sufficiently large to permit theswinging of the electrolier, substantially as set forth.

4. In an electrolier, the combination, with flexible lamp-conductors, ofa ceiling-block, a suspending device attached. thereto, provided with achannel across its face for each of the lamp-wires, and a vertical bore,substantially set forth.

5. In an electrolier, the combination, with flexible lamp-wires, of aceiling-block, suspending device, stem, ball-and-socket joint betweensaid suspending device and said stem, and a canopy secured in placearound said stem and ceiling-block by means of a screw passing throughsaid canopy and into a tapped hole in said suspending device,substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 5th day of August, 1880.

EVERETT W. LITTLE. JAMES T. ROBE. WVitnesses:

J NO. F. GEIDEL, GEO. E. Con.

